I was surprised to hear one of my English friends, recently settled in France, say the other day that nothing would induce him now to go back to England. He obviously had his reasons for saying that, but I couldn't go along with him. I have just come back from a week spent with my brother and sisters in the South-West, and have to report that I was overwhelmed by the experience, the sense of community, the opulence of it all. I know one should compare like with like: my sister lives in a pretty desirable part of England, on the edge of Dartmoor, whereas I am settled in a rather run-down corner of Burgundy. Even so, I can't see what my friend is getting at, unless it's something very personal to him.
My own feelings on returning to England have little to do with the objective merits or otherwise of the country or the people - insofar as I can judge in many ways superior to France and the French - and everything to do with my own particular circumstances.
On the one hand, England made me (made me do what? you might ask), England is where my roots are and where my family (so important to me) lives. Instinctively, I am at ease in a London railway station whereas I am still at a loss in a French station or airport where the signposting system remains a mystery to me to this very day.
On the other hand, I haven't stayed in England for any length of time since 1969. On the one hand, I feel I should know the place and feel immediately at home there; on the other hand, I realise with each succeeding day that I really haven't the faintest idea what's going on there! It is as though society has taken advantage of my absence to introduce sweeping changes WITHOUT CONSULTING ME!
It's all very unsettling but, you will no doubt say, how could it be otherwise? I certainly don't get this same feeling of disorientation in, say, Dubai or Texas. And the reason is not hard to find: I come to these places without the baggage of the past.
Good morning Barnaby,
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting post. Despite the weather and everything else in public newscasts/papers, England remains a great place to live; quite why it's hard to fathom. Possibly smaller interference by national and municipal govt in private lives than exists in many other countries
is one of the +ve ingredients to the quality of life on this island. I am increasingly wary of the social engineering mentality of the EU and its detrimental effect on our private lives here these days. The EU mentality seems to me to be all about municipal controls and steering everone to be the same and is to indiosyncratic lives as fish fingers are to fish.
EG I loathe those neatly planted round about entries to so many council areas and towns that seem popular on the continent - too much uniformity.
Interestingly the London boroughs have all submitted different signs of their own individuality rather than take a uniform approach for the Olympics 2012 badges. EG Merton's is Wimbledon's centre court.
The Common market was a far better concept for the UK than the EU but I accept that those who live on the continent may prefer the EU and the harmony it promises in all meanings of that word..
Apart from the strange occurence of the third hand, Mr. Dunn, I would say your feelings is some disorientation from your homeland is common to all those who have left our shores.
ReplyDeleteYour family were very pleased to see you, by the way! Always a pleasure.
Well, thankyou, Anonymous. I didn't know there was a mole in our midst!
ReplyDelete